Understanding:
• Metabolic pathways consist of chains and cycles of enzyme-catalysed reactions
Metabolism describes the sum total of all reactions that occur within an organism in order to maintain life
- Most chemical changes in a cell result from a series of reactions (pathways), with each step controlled by a specific enzyme
- Metabolic pathways allow for a greater level of regulation, as the chemical change is controlled by numerous intermediates
Metabolic pathways are typically organised into chains or cycles of enzyme-catalysed reactions
- Examples of chains: Glycolysis (in cell respiration), coagulation cascade (in blood clotting)
- Examples of cycles: Krebs cycle (in cell respiration), Calvin cycle (in photosynthesis)
Types of Metabolic Pathways
